SHAH'S RESCRIPT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 7

SHAH'S RESCRIPT.

CONSTITUTION REPEALED. A PIOUS ME<3LISS. RUSSIAN MAILS ROBBED. (BT IELEGKArn —ritBSS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) Teheran, October 2. Tho Shah of Persia has issued a rescript indirectly repealing tho constitution, as being against tho natural characteristics of tho people. Ho has instructed tho rand Vizier to convoke a pious Mejliss (National Assembly), capablo of fully dispensing Royal justico. Tho rescript deprives Tabriz of tho right of participating in tho Mejliss before tho "irresistiblo Royal forco has destroyed tho rebels in that district." (Rec. October 4, 4.30 p.m.) Teheran, October 3. Tho Shah's bandit horsemen outside Tabriz stole Russian mails and robbed tho Ccssack escort of their arms. THE SHAH'S BRIGANDS. "The Timos's" special correspondent, in a letter dated Tabriz, July 18, describes tile difficulties and dangers he encountered in getting through to that city, surrounded as it was by Rakhiiu Khan's brigands. At the last telephone station along tho road, lie got ino communicaion with tho British Consul in Tabriz, Mr. Stevens. "Stevens called me up and advised me not to como (the writer states), as tho road. was blocked with wild Kurdish horsemen, who wero Quito irresponsible, and that he could not do more for me than send his two native cavalry sowars down to the entrance of the town to mcet_ me. I told hiln that my duty lay in Tabriz, and that I must como at any cost. As we camo down the last slopo into Tabriz, I saw a knot of horsemen about two miles to our left. This soon broko up into dots, and I knew wo had to face it. Abour 15 of them camo along whipping their littlo ponies. Down they swept upon us and really it looked awfully well. They ride splendidly, and they swooped down upon us ventre-a-terre. One man, who had evidently spotted us first, was a long way in front of the others, and as he 'came to within 50 yards he unslung his rifle from his back and fired at us. Another did the same. This was not so pleasant, but men on galloping horses do not shoot very straight, and we stood up in _ the _ carriage, while the coachman, paralytic with fear,- climbed under the carriage. In a second, when it was seen that wo wero not going to defend ourselves, wo were surrounded by about 15 of the brigands— Rakliim Khan's horsemen, pillars of the monarchy! "Most picturesque blackguards they wero. They woro very rough at first, but Cohen, who behaved with great presence of mind, told them that they wore taking gTcat risks in molesting us, that I was an Englishman, and any_ interference with me would reflect upon their heads. This steadied them somewhat, and they said they could not let us go, but that we must go and see their chief, who was in tha hills threo miles away. Wo refused,whereupon thej became threatenning again. 1 then said that I was not going to drive across country, in my carriage, as it would be too uncomfortable; but, if they would give me one of their ponies, I would rido over and see their chief. It was a moment when anything but n bold front might have told against us. To this they at last agreed, and I mounted one of tho little 'rats.' "It was something of a strain when wo came to the chief, because you see these fellows are not soldiors, they are just lawless brigands from the mountains whom the Shah has purchased to coerce the revolutionaries. The two brigand chiefs, who wero seated on a carpet and evidently received their prisoners seated, rose to meet ino and invited mo to sit on tho carpet. Then things wero plain sailing. I produced a letter in Porsian from tho Persian Ambassador in Constantinople. Tho chiefs were too ignorant to read it, but too proud to allow that they could not do so, and after a littlo palavering they gave me an escort of brigands to the confines of tho town. To show tho class of men into whoso hands the Shall has given tho duty of restoring order, ono of our escort said to us bitterly as he took us to the town, 'Wo wero fools not to have shot you without asking who you wero, as I want that grey pony badly, and it would have been mine. Wo shall shoot the next lot we meet in the road.' And they were truo to their word, for an hour later another carriage full of Persians tried to pass in behind a Russian mail escorted by Cossacks, and the poor devils wore butchered on the road aml.the post horses stolen. This, of course, I heard afterwards. Anyhow, I was very grateful when our escort said they must go back, otherwise the revolutionaries holding tho confines of tho town would shoot at them."